Team Contract
Documents expectations and procedural rules.
PURPOSE
The Team Contract is used to document and make binding the expectations and ground rules within a team. It solves the problem that unspoken expectations lead to frustration and conflicts because team members have different ideas about collaboration. Through explicit agreements, misunderstandings are reduced and team culture is consciously shaped.
HOW TO USE
Create the Team Contract together as a team, ideally in a facilitated workshop at the beginning of the collaboration. Discuss expectations regarding communication, behavior, working hours, meeting rules, and conflict management. Formulate the agreements as concrete, verifiable rules and have all team members sign the contract. Review the contract regularly and adjust it as needed.
WHAT IT IS
The Team Contract is a written agreement document that records the behavioral and procedural rules of a team. It typically covers areas such as communication rules, decision-making processes, meeting agreements, quality standards, conflict resolution mechanisms, and expectations for individual responsibility. The contract is jointly developed by all team members and serves as a binding reference for collaboration.
EXAMPLE
Example: You lead an interdisciplinary research team at a university and create a Team Contract that specifies how author order in publications is determined, when regular meetings take place, how missed deadlines are handled, and what confidentiality rules apply. This helps you avoid the typical conflicts in academic teams.